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Best Tankless Water Heaters
If you’ve been wanting to upgrade your water heater and are curious about the possibility of switching to a tankless water heater – this article will help you find what you need and learn more about how they operate.
They’re good for space saving, instant hot water, and even monthly energy savings. Tankless hot water heaters can be pricey upfront but worth the investment. Safety and peace of mind are also important when it comes to tankless designs. With less worry and fuss having to replace large tank models, these compact units are great for new homes, updating your old home, or small condos.
Our top picks
What to look for in a tankless hot water heater
When you’re looking for a new tankless hot water heater, or thinking about updating a current model, these are the key points you should keep in mind:
Electric vs gas – The largest decision when it comes to choosing a tankless heater is electric vs gas. Electric is much easier to install and place in your home, as it doesn’t require ventilation and other hookups such as it does with gas. If you do already run on gas or similar, it may be easier to install a gas heater. Be sure to talk to your contractor and decide what works best for your home and budget.
Size – While it may seem obvious, the size of your tankless water heater does matter. It isn’t a one size fits all situation and depending on the size of your home plus the amount of simultaneous hot water use – it’s best to decide what suits your needs best. One that’s too small won’t provide adequate hot water, while one that’s too large may take longer or be wasteful.
Flow rate – GPM or Gallons Per Minute refers to the amount of hot water a tankless water heater can provide per minute. Determining the total amount of all fixtures that would run at the same time is a helpful tool when trying to determine what size you need for your home and how efficiently it will work without inconsistent flow or temperature changes.
Temperature rise – All groundwater across the country has a different temperature, which factors in how much your water heater needs to work to achieve the temperature necessary. This along with the flow rate can help determine your tankless heater size as well.
Price – Tankless water hearts do have a more expensive upfront cost, though the savings and ease of use can be worth the price tag. Most are available from $1000 to $4000, depending on whether you’ve chosen a gas or electric heater – plus installation and maintenance fees. Both are worth their costs, but what you’re comfortable with and can afford are worthwhile to think about.
The best tankless water heaters
Best tankless water heater for RV/Best portable tankless water heater
Features
The Gasland brand of outdoor portable tankless heater is perfect for RV’s, camping, and other outdoor activities such as an outdoor shower at a lake cabin.
It’s easy to install and is CSA approved – a flame failure device, overheating protection, and anti-freezing protection make this a safe choice for anyone concerned about using a portable tankless heater. The lightweight and portable design make it easy to pack and haul around for camping and trips.
It can be hung up using the included mounting bracket on the top/back of the gas water heater. There are also optional instructions for a more permanent installation if you’d prefer.
Pros
- Perfect for RVs, camping, outside, etc.
- Energy saving.
- Lightweight and portable.
Cons
- Temperature can get very hot, very fast.
GASLAND outdoor portable tankless heater
VIEW ON AMAZONBest gas tankless water heater
Features
Rbaysale’s tankless gas-powered water heater is beautifully designed tankless heater made with corrosion resistant copper inner parts that also help with heating water even faster. The outer pane is glass with a digital display that’s easy to read and change settings with.
There are 12 different protection safety features, including dry burning protection, over 65°C protection, leakages, flameouts, excessive wind pressures, and overvoltage protections – to name the most important ones.
It adjusts the power input based on flow rate and temperature settings in real time, allowing you to save money and energy consumptions. Summer / Winter modes also allow it to automatically adjust the fire row amount, saving you even more depending on the season and settings.
They do recommend getting a professional installation with this, as it is as gas set-up that requires an exhaust put in and making sure that everything is set correctly. It does come with an automatic smoke path evacuation system that allows the gas to leave the room. Four modes are available on the touchscreen, including comfort mode, bathtub mode, economy, and a kitchen mode.
The adjustable water pressure starts at 0.01MPa and can be adjusted to 0.8MPa. It’s a fast tankless heater, allowing even the lowest pressure to start up with heat and speed from the get-go.
Pros
- Beautiful design.
- Corrosion-resistant copper tubes.
- Easy to install.
- Smart-touch options.
Cons
- Pricey.
Rbaysale tankless gas heater
VIEW ON AMAZONBest electric tankless water heater
Features
The EcoSmart ECO 11 is a great compact little tankless electric heater that can get the job done. The digital controls work in 1° increments, giving you complete control over what you’d like the temperature and usage set to.
With a small, compact size the EcoSmart tankless heater saves you a lot of storage space that might otherwise be taken up by a large hot water tank in your basement or elsewhere. Easily installed, the wall-mounted design can go wherever you need it to and freeing up floor space.
It’s ideal for point-of-use and low-flow applications as well. Providing between 1.3 and 3.1 gallons of water per minute (depending on your inlet water temperature), you’ll have instant hot water at any time. Be sure to check which model you need for your home size and how often you’ll have multiple applications running, such as multiple showers, kitchen faucets, etc.
An additional bonus is that most user reviews have stated that this works fantastically during frigidly cold winter months, including northern territories and in the east coast.
Pros
- Lifetime warranty for residential users.
- Compact design.
- Works great in cold climates.
Cons
- Some users have had small leaks, may be something to keep an eye on.
EcoSmart ECO 11 electric heater
VIEW ON AMAZONBest affordable tankless water heater
Features
The Stiebel mini electric tankless heater is a worthwhile investment if you’re looking for something in a more affordable range, but it does have some drawbacks – mainly the size. If you’re looking for a larger unit to run multiple appliances at once, this may not be the one for you.
This point-of-use mini tankless heater is perfect for a single use space, such as a bathroom sink or a workshop sink outside the home, or a cabin, etc. It’s electric, making it much easier to install than other gas-powered ones.
It can be installed up or down, designed with installation flexibility in mind. The water connections can either be facing upwards or down. Pre-wired ‘pigtail’ wires are included and attached, making installation even simpler and quicker.
One caveat with the mini is that it can’t tackle boiling hot water or large quantities like others can, but again, for a single use heater – it’s a great option. Decent price point. Small and compact. Easy to install.
Pros
- Decent price point.
- Small and compact.
- Easy to install.
Cons
- Mini tankless heater might be too small for some users.
Stiebel electric tankless heater
VIEW ON AMAZONBest tankless water heater for large homes
Features
Rheem’s electric tankless water heater is perfect for large homes and multiple applications. It can handle dishwashers, showers, faucets, and more all running at once without losing heat or taking up your time. In less than a minute, you can enjoy hot water even at the furthest end of your home.
Two copper heating elements have flow rate up to 4.4 GPM and the installation is simple and already threaded for an easy replacement or change in the future. The external thermostat has a digital readout control, with an LED display.
The self-modulation adjusts power to meet the hot water demand depending on use within your home. One caveat (as with all tankless heater options) is that if you’re living in an extremely cold weather climate – it can be hard for it to properly heat your water as well as you’d like during -40°C or lower.
Pros
- Easy installation.
- Great for large homes.
Cons
- Water for bathtubs might need to be slowed slightly to allow it to heat fully.
- May need a bigger model if winter is extremely cold where you live.
Rheem electric tankless heater
VIEW ON AMAZONOur Methodology
For this article, we chose the best tankless water heaters based on top Amazon ratings and reviews, along with different categories that would work best for most users home setups and size differences for placement of the tankless heathers – that should work well for most. We also researched ratings from other trusted peer review sites and online user experiences to create this curated list.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does a tankless water heater work?
Tankless water heaters work by using a gas burner or electric element to heat the water as it flows through the pipe and into the unit. Unlike tank water heaters, you essentially have an unlimited supply of hot water, and the hot water is near instantaneous.
Are tankless water heaters worth it?
They are worth it if you can afford the higher upfront price tag for installations and everything that goes along with that. Instant hot water, longer lifespans, lower monthly costs, space saving, and better energy efficiency are some of the best pros, while cons can be that if you have a large household or are always running hot water, it may not be sufficient – the temperatures may be inconsistent if for example, you have a dishwasher running, taps going, etc.
What are the types of tankless water heaters?
Gas burner or electric element heating are the types of tankless water heaters. Gas heaters are more complicated to install and are more expensive than electric, for that reason. Electric doesn’t require ventilation and size-wise they generally are more compact and easier to install where you’d like, since they require less complicated set-up.
What is the first-hour rating?
The first hour rating for a water heater is generally the number of gallons of hot water the heater can supply per hour. It largely depends on the heat source and size of the unit.
How long do tankless water heaters last?
A pro of tankless water heaters is that they last double the lifespan of a tank option. Whereas a hot water tank may last for 10 years, tankless models can last double that, up to 20+ years before needing a replacement.
What’s the average tankless water heater price in Canada?
Pricing is based on the contractor you go with for installation of course, and location. That said however, the average cost for a tankless water heater within Canada is anywhere from $1000 to $4000. Gas or electric, basic or all the bells and whistles – it comes down to what you need and what you can afford when you’re looking to get a tankless heater.
What are the best water heater brands?
Rinnai, Rheem, EcoSmart, Tagaki, SioGreen, and Stiebel Eltron are some of the best top-rated tankless water heater brands.
Tank vs tankless water heaters: What’s the difference?
Tank water heaters are what most people have in their homes or in apartment buildings. Large tanks in the basement that hold gallons of water, that bring water up to your faucets that take time to heat. Tankless models bring water through the pipes, to the unit, and you have instantaneous hot water with a fraction of the space taken up or worry for leaks causing flooding.
Are tankless water heaters dangerous?
Yes. Tankless water heaters are actually frequently thought to be more dangerous than traditional tank heaters.
How many tankless water heaters do I need at home?
One unit should suffice for smaller households, while two (or at least the largest model available) may be recommended for larger households that need more of a hot water supply.
